Educators will have a direct connection to address issues of online bullying in their school systems in conjunction with a partnership the state has with Facebook, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler announced.

MARYLAND MAY HAVE A LEG UP ON HELPING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEAL WITH CYBER BULLYING. IT'S ALL THANKS TO AN AGREEMENT WITH FACEBOOK. THE COMPANY SAYS IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR SCHOOLS TO REPORT BULLYING ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA SITE. TIM TOOTEN JOINS US WITH THAT STORY. HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS E I KNOW CYBER BULLYING IS HUGE. IT IS A PROJECT JUST FOR MARYLAND. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AT THE START OF NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH. THE NEW LAW OFFICIALLY HIT THE BOOKS. SOME EXPERTS SAY MORE THAN A MILLION STUDENTS HAVE BEEN BULLIED OVER THE INTERNET. A 15 THAT -- A 15-YEAR- OLD TEENAGER TOOK HER OWN LIFE AFTER SHE WAS CYBER BULLIED IN 2012. THE TRAGEDY LED TO THE NEW CYBER BULLYING LAW IN MARYLAND. IT IS ONE REASON WHY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PUSHED SO HARD TO FORM THIS NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ACE BOOK. WITH A STUDENT FEELS HE OR SHE IS THE VICTIM OF CYBER BULLYING, THERE WILL BE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO FACEBOOK. IF IT IS CYBER BULLYING. FACEBOOK CALLS IT THE EDUCATION ESCALATION CHANNEL. WE WILL HOPEFULLY CUT IT OFF AT THE ROOT SO IT STOPS THIS PERPETUAL CIRCLE OF MORE POSTINGS IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE. MARYLAND PARENTS ARE CONVINCED THE NEW EFFORT COULD HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA. SO MUCH CAN HAPPEN, WHETHER PARENTS ARE WATCHING OR NOT, ONLINE. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA. IT HOLDS FACEBOOK A LITTLE MORE ACCOUNTABLE. PARENTS SAY IT IS A START, BUT IT WON'T SOLVE THE LARGEST CYBER BULLYING ISSUE. MY ONLY REMAINING CONCERN IS THAT WE ADDRESS THE BIGGER CULTURE THAT CREATES BULLYING AND MAKES IT POSSIBLE. TO ME, THAT IS REALLY THE BIG ISSUE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HOPES TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES. THE MOTHER OF THE TEENAGER VICTIMIZED BY CYBER BULLYING SAYS SHE IS PLEASED THE DISCUSSION IS BEING HELD ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. SHE SAID TO HER